M80A

The BVP M80A mechanised infantry combat vehicle is a further development of the M-980 (although in early 1991 this was redesignated the M-80), and was shown in public for the first time at the Cairo defence equipment exhibition held in late 1984.

It is believed that the BVP M80A entered production in 1980 as the replacement for the M-980 vehicle and by the time production was completed it is estimated that up to 1,000 vehicles of all types had been completed. There are no known plans for this vehicle to be placed back in production. There are no known upgrade plans for the BVP M80A MICV. Description

The overall layout of the BVP M80A is identical to the M-80 but it is slightly heavier (14 tonnes compared to 13 tonnes), slightly wider and higher, has a greater ground clearance (0.4 m compared to 0.3 m) and has a slightly higher road speed (64 km/h compared to 60 km/h). It has a more powerful diesel engine that, in addition to giving the higher road speed, gives an improved power-to-weight ratio.

Standard equipment includes an NBC system, fire extinguishing equipment, a system for eliminating gases in the vehicle when the weapons are fired, a heater and bilge pumps; and with preparation the vehicle is fully amphibious, being propelled in the water by its tracks. It can also lay its own smoke screen by injecting diesel fuel into the exhaust outlet on the right side of the hull.

Variants

BVP M80AK infantry fighting vehicle

This is essentially the BVP M80A previously described but fitted with a new one-man turret armed with a 30 mm M86 cannon, a 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun, a twin launcher for the locally-built Russian Kolomna KBM 9K11 Malytuka (NATO AT-3 'Sagger') ATGW and two two-round smoke grenade dischargers that fire to the front of the vehicle.

Turret traverse is a full 360° with weapon elevation from -10 to +65°. Infantry weapons carried are four 64 mm rocket launchers, two 7.62 mm machine guns, six 7.62 mm automatic rifles and a 26 mm signal pistol.

This has a new two-man power-operated turret armed with twin 30 mm automatic anti-aircraft cannon and a four man crew consisting of the commander and gunner in the turret and the driver in the hull. This is also referred to as the BVP M80A (Samakhodno PA Oruzhe). The two 30 mm cannon are type M86/89. The complete system has a combat weight of 15.85 tonnes. It is believed that the prototypes were known as the M80A2 and two of the three planned prototypes were built and saw service in Kosovo.

SAVA low-altitude SAM system

This is the Yugoslav equivalent of the Russian KB Tochmash 9K35 Strela-10 (NATO SA-13 'Gopher') SAM system based on an MT-LB chassis. The Yugoslav system is based on a modified BVP M80 chassis but it is understood that this has yet to enter production. Details are given in Jane's Land-Based Air Defence. Croatia has developed a similar system on a 6 × 6 armoured chassis. Details of this are given in Jane's Land-Based Air Defence.

BVP M80A KC company commander's vehicle

This is the standard vehicle modified for use by the company commander with additional communications equipment installed.

BVP M80A KB battalion commander's vehicle

This is the standard vehicle modified for use by the battalion commander with additional communications equipment installed.

BVP M80A LT anti-tank vehicle

Standard M80A with the turret removed and fitted with a new turret armed with six locally-built Kolomna KBM 9K11 Malyutka (NATO AT-3 'Sagger') ATGWs in the ready to launch position which have a maximum range of 3,000 m. Serbia has developed new warheads for this missile, including a tandem HEAT warhead to neutralise ERA, and a thermobaric warhead. Mounted between the two banks of missiles is a 7.62 mm machine gun. This pod is probably identical to that fitted to the BOV-1 (4 × 4) ATGW carrier. Details of the Vozila BOV (4 × 4) are given under Slovenia in a separate entry. Production of the BOV has been completed and it is no longer marketed. This is also referred to as the LT-M-92 (Lovac Tenova) and is also known to be used by the Bosnian Serbs.

BVP M80A Sn ambulance

This is the standard vehicle with its turret removed and plated over and modified for use in the ambulance role. There is a single oblong hatch in the roof that opens left and a single door in the hull rear. Its four-man crew consists of a driver and three medical orderlies and it can transport four stretcher patients, four seated and two stretcher patients or eight seated patients.

BVP M-80 VK command post vehicle

This command post does not feature the turret installed on the standard BVP M-80A vehicle and has a single hatch at the rear, a telescopic antenna on the right side and six whip antennas. This is known to be used by the Bosnian Serbs.

MOS minelayer

This has the turret removed and a raised superstructure to the rear with racks for 288 TMRP-6 or TMNU-7 anti-tank mines. At the rear of the vehicle is a mechanical minelayer than can be used to bury mines at a maximum depth of 30 cm, or lay mines on the surface. On top of the roof is a crane. The vehicle has a crew of four and weighs 17.5 tonnes. A 7.62 mm machine gun fitted with 1,750 rounds of ammunition is provided for local protection.